I was looking for a new book to read at my local bookstore. I don't like to go to the bookstore with nothing in particular in mind because I usually end up buying something that fails to deliver. The book ends up sitting on my shelf collecting dust after that initial read and I experience buyer's remorse. Because I was desperate for a new book, I took the chance- and I'm so happy I did! I stumbled upon Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian and it is a winner.
The Historian is written in the style of a Victorian gothic novel, yet is is immensely readable. Kostova delivers layer upon layer of suspense at just the right pace, which kept me glued to the pages. A young girl follows her father across Europe, learning as she does so about her parents's mysterious contacts with the bloodthirsty noble believed to be long dead- no other than Vlad the Impaler. Immersing herself in her father's fascinating story, she finds herself increasingly in danger from the unbelievable evil her father has discovered.
Like Morton's The Forgotten Garden, the story is told from the perspective of several characters over a long period of time. Their stories weave together, sometimes abstractly, piecing together cohesively at the end. Yet it couldn't be more different from Morton's novel-in short, The Historian is a vampire novel. Before you lose interest, you should know that this is no twilight or Sookie Stackhouse novel. Instead it is literary, heavily researched and so enjoyable to read. Mingled with the supernatural and suspenseful elements are historical details about the Ottoman Empire and Eastern Europe. This novel might even teach you an historical fact or two. If vampire novels aren't your thing- keep an open mind. This is surprisingly light on gore and oh so good! This book has put me in the mood to read Bram Stoker's Dracula and Kostova's newest novel, The Swan Thieves. Happy Reading!
Showing posts with label Gothic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gothic. Show all posts
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Another winner by Katherine Morton
Don't you love those books that you just can't put down? The ones that you devour in a single sitting? The ones that you anticipate getting back to when you have to put them down?
Katherine Morton is that kind of author for me. I have read her books eagerly and they provide a welcome escape from daily life. Her books combine mystery, tragedy, suspense and romance in just the right combination that keeps you fully immersed in the story. My favourite Morton novel is The Forgotten Garden, a novel that I have recommended to other readers. I love the way she tells the story across several generations, through the voices of various strong female protagonists. I especially love the way she incorporates fairy tales into the novel, using them to help the reader piece the story together. And though I figured out the biggest mystery before it was revealed in the final pages, it did not fail to capture me.
Morton's newest novel, The Distant Hours, delivers another great story of passion and tragedy and family relationships. Elements of the gothic seep into the story, setting an intense pace at times. Again, the story takes place across several generations; a young woman tries to learn more about her mother by visiting the castle where her mother was billeted as a child during World War II. By interviewing the elderly sisters who inhabit the castle, Edie learns about her mother, while also solving an old unsolved mystery. Again, Morton uses stories to set the tone; a haunting children's book is the basis for the mystery of the novel. While she uses the same formulas in each of her novels, the stories are fresh and it feels like you can connect to the many protagonists who each help to unravel the mystery.
I look forward to continued work by Katherine Morton; I only hope that she can continue to incorporate new story lines so that her work does not become simply a tried and true formula.
Katherine Morton is that kind of author for me. I have read her books eagerly and they provide a welcome escape from daily life. Her books combine mystery, tragedy, suspense and romance in just the right combination that keeps you fully immersed in the story. My favourite Morton novel is The Forgotten Garden, a novel that I have recommended to other readers. I love the way she tells the story across several generations, through the voices of various strong female protagonists. I especially love the way she incorporates fairy tales into the novel, using them to help the reader piece the story together. And though I figured out the biggest mystery before it was revealed in the final pages, it did not fail to capture me.
Morton's newest novel, The Distant Hours, delivers another great story of passion and tragedy and family relationships. Elements of the gothic seep into the story, setting an intense pace at times. Again, the story takes place across several generations; a young woman tries to learn more about her mother by visiting the castle where her mother was billeted as a child during World War II. By interviewing the elderly sisters who inhabit the castle, Edie learns about her mother, while also solving an old unsolved mystery. Again, Morton uses stories to set the tone; a haunting children's book is the basis for the mystery of the novel. While she uses the same formulas in each of her novels, the stories are fresh and it feels like you can connect to the many protagonists who each help to unravel the mystery.
I look forward to continued work by Katherine Morton; I only hope that she can continue to incorporate new story lines so that her work does not become simply a tried and true formula.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Is anyone else sick of Twilight?
So what do we call the vampire/werewolf/witchcraft/zombies/strangeness genre that is dominating teen novels these days? It may have started with the wonderful Harry Potter series, but it has become darker and weirder and in some cases, just bad. I thought I would highlight the best and worst of the genre that I have personally read.
Okay, I'll admit it. I got sucked into the Twilight craze just like all the thirteen year olds out there. I ended up reading all four books in a mad rush over Christmas. They are highly addictive. They're the kind of novels that are great in the moment, but when you think about them once the Twilight-induced haze has passed, you realize they're really not very good. They're not very well written, the characters can be so annoying (especially Bella) and two-dimensional (again, Bella) and the last couple novels are very anti-climactic. You can tell that Stephanie Meyer was really grasping at straws in the last book especially.
Another series that became very popular (though not as popular as Twilight) is The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. This series also has some vampires, and also witches and demons and other weird things. I was sad to hear that the first novel in this series, City of Bones just might be the 2010 YRCA winner. These are not very well written either, and yet they became ever so popular.
I recently read another novel, A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libby Bray. This novel was highly recommended to me by a teen at the library, and I was sorely disappointed. In this novel, a young girl (Gemma Doyle) discovers her magic powers at a boarding school in Victorian times. She and three of her schoolmates form a mysterious group called "The Order" and discover a magic world. Gemma must also discover the truth about her mother, who was mysteriously killed at the beginning of the novel. It was just strange and not memorable at all. Yet, this very popular book (first in a series) is reportedly being made into a movie.
Another vampire series is the highly popular Southern Vampire Series by Charlaine Harris. This series is intended for adults, and it chronicles the adventures of Sookie Stackhouse, a psychic barmaid who strikes up a romantic relationship with a vampire. Think of this series as a harlequin romance with vampires. I'll admit it- this series is also highly addictive, but it is certainly not amazing.
Now to discuss some good examples of the vampire/werewolf/witchcraft/zombie/strangeness genre. I recently read The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. In this novel a young girl grows up in a post-apocalyptic society. This society is closed off from the world because of the 'unconsecrated' (aka zombies) that live outside the fence. As Mary is trying to find out where she belongs in the community, the community's very existence is threatened when the fence is breached. I really really enjoyed this novel. I thought it was very well written and the plot kept me engaged and interested. I liked the ending- Ryan stayed away from the tried and true formulas. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel- The Dead-Tossed Waves.
Another post-apocalyptic novel (this one is free of vampires and other magical creatures) is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. This is an absolutely wonderful novel, and one of the nominees for YRCA 2011. In this future society, the nation is divided into thirteen districts- the rich and powerful Capitol and twelve other poor districts. Every year, a boy and a girl from each district is chosen to fight in the Hunger Games- a competition to the death. Katniss takes the place of her younger sister to fight in the games. Can she survive to see her family again? This is a great novel, and the first in a trilogy. I highly recommend. it.
A Curse Dark as Gold, also one of the 2011 YRCA nominees, is a wonderful retelling of the Rumpelstiltzkin fairy tale. Elizabeth C. Bunce combines magic and fairy tale with the history of the industrial revolution, adding other elements to make the story her own. This story had a great twist at the end.
The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel is first in another great series. I mentioned this one in my YRCA 2010 post, so I'll just say that this novel is a great blend of history, mythology, magic and fantasy. Wonderful!
Scott Westerfeld has written a couple of good teen series, The Midnighters and The Uglies, the former being more dark and magical, while the latter is another post-apocalyptic series. Both are enjoyable.
Neil Gaiman, author of Coraline and Stardust has written another great fantasy novel called Neverwhere. In this novel, a young man falls into a secret world under the streets of London. This magical world is dark and vicious and it is uncertain whether he- or the young woman that accompanies him- will survive it.
Before you dismiss Stephanie Meyer altogether, she has written another novel, The Host, which I highly enjoyed. Aliens have come to earth and taken over human bodies. But one girl struggles for dominance of her own body against the creature occupying it to protect her loved ones. This novel puts Twilight to shame.
Finally, if you're dying for a good vampire novel, I do have one for you. It's called Sunshine by Robin McKinley. A young woman is kidnapped by a group of vampires and brought to an abandoned mansion. She is clothed in a red gown and chained to a wall. Chained to the opposite wall - just within reaching distance-is a very hungry and emaciated vampire. Will she survive the night?
So, there are some good examples of the vampire/werewolf/witchcraft/zombie/strangeness genre out there. Now we just need to come up with a shorter name! The Modern Gothic perhaps?
Okay, I'll admit it. I got sucked into the Twilight craze just like all the thirteen year olds out there. I ended up reading all four books in a mad rush over Christmas. They are highly addictive. They're the kind of novels that are great in the moment, but when you think about them once the Twilight-induced haze has passed, you realize they're really not very good. They're not very well written, the characters can be so annoying (especially Bella) and two-dimensional (again, Bella) and the last couple novels are very anti-climactic. You can tell that Stephanie Meyer was really grasping at straws in the last book especially.
Another series that became very popular (though not as popular as Twilight) is The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. This series also has some vampires, and also witches and demons and other weird things. I was sad to hear that the first novel in this series, City of Bones just might be the 2010 YRCA winner. These are not very well written either, and yet they became ever so popular.
I recently read another novel, A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libby Bray. This novel was highly recommended to me by a teen at the library, and I was sorely disappointed. In this novel, a young girl (Gemma Doyle) discovers her magic powers at a boarding school in Victorian times. She and three of her schoolmates form a mysterious group called "The Order" and discover a magic world. Gemma must also discover the truth about her mother, who was mysteriously killed at the beginning of the novel. It was just strange and not memorable at all. Yet, this very popular book (first in a series) is reportedly being made into a movie.
Another vampire series is the highly popular Southern Vampire Series by Charlaine Harris. This series is intended for adults, and it chronicles the adventures of Sookie Stackhouse, a psychic barmaid who strikes up a romantic relationship with a vampire. Think of this series as a harlequin romance with vampires. I'll admit it- this series is also highly addictive, but it is certainly not amazing.
Now to discuss some good examples of the vampire/werewolf/witchcraft/zombie/strangeness genre. I recently read The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. In this novel a young girl grows up in a post-apocalyptic society. This society is closed off from the world because of the 'unconsecrated' (aka zombies) that live outside the fence. As Mary is trying to find out where she belongs in the community, the community's very existence is threatened when the fence is breached. I really really enjoyed this novel. I thought it was very well written and the plot kept me engaged and interested. I liked the ending- Ryan stayed away from the tried and true formulas. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel- The Dead-Tossed Waves.
Another post-apocalyptic novel (this one is free of vampires and other magical creatures) is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. This is an absolutely wonderful novel, and one of the nominees for YRCA 2011. In this future society, the nation is divided into thirteen districts- the rich and powerful Capitol and twelve other poor districts. Every year, a boy and a girl from each district is chosen to fight in the Hunger Games- a competition to the death. Katniss takes the place of her younger sister to fight in the games. Can she survive to see her family again? This is a great novel, and the first in a trilogy. I highly recommend. it.
A Curse Dark as Gold, also one of the 2011 YRCA nominees, is a wonderful retelling of the Rumpelstiltzkin fairy tale. Elizabeth C. Bunce combines magic and fairy tale with the history of the industrial revolution, adding other elements to make the story her own. This story had a great twist at the end.
The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel is first in another great series. I mentioned this one in my YRCA 2010 post, so I'll just say that this novel is a great blend of history, mythology, magic and fantasy. Wonderful!
Scott Westerfeld has written a couple of good teen series, The Midnighters and The Uglies, the former being more dark and magical, while the latter is another post-apocalyptic series. Both are enjoyable.
Neil Gaiman, author of Coraline and Stardust has written another great fantasy novel called Neverwhere. In this novel, a young man falls into a secret world under the streets of London. This magical world is dark and vicious and it is uncertain whether he- or the young woman that accompanies him- will survive it.
Before you dismiss Stephanie Meyer altogether, she has written another novel, The Host, which I highly enjoyed. Aliens have come to earth and taken over human bodies. But one girl struggles for dominance of her own body against the creature occupying it to protect her loved ones. This novel puts Twilight to shame.
Finally, if you're dying for a good vampire novel, I do have one for you. It's called Sunshine by Robin McKinley. A young woman is kidnapped by a group of vampires and brought to an abandoned mansion. She is clothed in a red gown and chained to a wall. Chained to the opposite wall - just within reaching distance-is a very hungry and emaciated vampire. Will she survive the night?
So, there are some good examples of the vampire/werewolf/witchcraft/zombie/strangeness genre out there. Now we just need to come up with a shorter name! The Modern Gothic perhaps?
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